Four things you’ll like about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTEC 4Matic

by used view

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTEC 4Matic has a heap of ‘all goods’ wrapped up in an SUV that has style, elegance and an EPA that shouldn’t put a hurting on your fuel card, but here are 4 other great reasons why it scores high:

1) The exterior is sexy/classy. The M-Class just got spiffed up last year and it’s look went from minivan-esque to a head-turning, sleeker, aggressive and more sculpted look. It has sophisticated lines, a wider and lower stance, long wheelbase, high beltline, attention-grabbing grill and headlamps, and is actually appealing every which way you peep it.

2) The interior is driver-focused. Inside the top notch ML350 BlueTEC’s welcoming interior is a layout that is functional and ergonomically right on point. The ute’s posh interior has touches of wood, leather and alloy cabin accents and power-adjustable front seats (the driver gets pampered with 4-way adjustable lumbar support). Remote power door locks and one-touch power windows again come standard, as do cruise control, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, telescoping tilt-wheel steering (optional) and a universal remote garage door opener. There’s no third row offered however which could be the best news ever for those who hate to give folks, lifts. With the rear seats in place, there’s a total of 36 cubic feet of hoarding space and with them folded flat, you get 71 cubes.

Those uber-designers over at Mercedes-Benz, get ‘it’ and truly understand that comfort and an interior that makes sense is what will grab and keep a car owner coming back time and time again. The cushy teething-ring-feel, multi-function, steering wheel is just a comfortable fit, it feels good to the touch and makes maneuvering the vehicle an easy/breezy task. The instrument cluster is not obscured by the steering wheel, all of the dials are prominent, controls are within easy reach and a cinch to operate. Mercedes-Benz and comfort seating go hand and hand–perfectly bolstered, super supportive and just ideal for long trips with the fam. Talls and pleasingly plumps will not be disappointed at the room that is offered in the full-size luxury SUV, front and back, leg and head-wise. You’ll appreciate the heated and cooled cup holders and oversized door pockets for additional stash.

The gotta gets for the 5-passenger ML350 BlueTEC are options such as the very user-friendly navigation system with Zagat survey for all you foodies, panorama roof, rear entertainment system to keep the kiddies calm and the Harmon/Kardon LOGIC 7 surround sound system that soothingly strokes your ears with clear and rich sounds.

3) Mercedes-Benz and safety go hand-in-hand. Besides the 9 airbags that covers the ML350’s driver and passengers every which way, the vehicle is so chockfull of safety do-dads that it will truly provide you with a kind ofrock solid sense of security every time you get behind the wheel. Big points go to the radar-based Collision Prevention Assist that lets you know if you are going to imminently connect (speed and distance-wise) in a bad way with a vehicle up ahead; it also primes the brakes for short stops. Coffee may not always help keep your eyes on the road but the Attention Assist Driver-Drowsiness Monitor just might be the ticket to alert you, visually and audibly, when you’re trying to sneak in some ZZZs while you’re driving–YIKES! The Active Lane Keeping Assist (optional) will snap you right out of your drifting-out-of-your-lane habit by causing the steering wheel to vibrate. Here’s a really thoughtful touch, Night Security Illumination which when programmed, the exterior lights of the Mercedes-Benz Ute turn on when remotely locked, it can really help illuminate your immediate path to wherever and keep you from going bump in the night–OUCH! In government safety testing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this posh SUV received its best 5-star rating overall.

4) The ML350 BlueTEC is a smooth operator. There’s gobs of low-end torque (455 lb-ft) for sassy quick starts. And the one thing that will lands-down impress you is the lack of diesel fume odors and the sound of quiet when the engine comes on. You’ll actually forget that the BlueTEC runs on diesel fuel. These new diesels have really come a long way. Gone are the sounds of metal bolts shaking in a can and the belching of strong black exhaust that you made you feel as if you were hauling freight. Ugh, those bad and smelly memories…. The ML350 BlueTEC is quiet but not meek power-wise. You’d think that the 5,000-pound ML350 would be ponderous…NOT! The SUV has a 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 engine that delivers 240 horsepower which was plenty for hauling butt on the highway. The overall ride of the ML350 was comfortable and really compliant. Even though the ML is not as nimble as say a Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5, the driving experience it provides is way more than adequate. Another draw is the braking system in the ML350 BlueTEC, strong, firm, secure. Fuel economy also improves to 20 city/28 hwy/23 mpg combined.

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTEC is eye candy that is provides comfort on wheels, legendary safety/reliability and solid build quality, all, essential ingredients that you require when transporting those you love.